How Do You Spell KAMIKAZE?

Pronunciation: [kˌamɪkˈɑːzɪ] (IPA)

The word "kamikaze" originates from Japanese, and refers to a suicide mission. It is spelled as /kɑːmɪˈkɑːzi/ in IPA phonetic transcription, and pronounced as ka-mi-ka-ze. The first syllable "ka" is pronounced with a long "a" sound, while the second and third syllables are pronounced with a short "i" sound. The final syllable "ze" is pronounced as "zay". The spelling of this word has remained consistent, but its usage has evolved from a military strategy to a term used to describe recklessness or extreme behavior.

KAMIKAZE Meaning and Definition

1. Kamikaze refers to an individual or specific military strategy, originating in Japan, that involves a deliberately suicidal act or attack, typically carried out by an airplane or piloted vessel. The term literally translates to "divine wind" in Japanese, reflecting the cultural and historical significance attached to the concept.

   The concept of kamikaze emerged during World War II, when the Imperial Japanese Navy employed this tactic as a desperate measure against the advancing enemy forces. Kamikaze pilots willingly sacrificed their lives by purposefully crashing their aircraft or vessels onto enemy ships or targets, aiming to inflict maximum damage. Operating under the conviction that their actions served a greater cause, kamikaze fighters demonstrated unwavering loyalty and selflessness to their country's military objectives.

   Beyond its historical military context, the term kamikaze has also become more broadly used to describe any act characterized by reckless abandon or complete disregard for personal safety, often with a specific outcome or goal in mind. In this sense, it may refer to a person who engages in dangerous or self-destructive behavior without caring about the consequences, such as taking excessive risks or engaging in life-threatening activities.

   While kamikaze is primarily associated with Japan's military history, its usage has extended beyond this context to encompass a wider range of self-sacrificial acts or individuals displaying an extreme level of dedication.

Top Common Misspellings for KAMIKAZE *

• kamakazi 66.6666666%
• kamakaze 33.3333333%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for KAMIKAZE

• kamokazi
• kamikazi
• kamakazie
• kamakazee
• kamikazee
• kamikase
• jamikaze
• mamikaze
• lamikaze
• oamikaze
• iamikaze
• kzmikaze
• ksmikaze
• kwmikaze
• KamiKazz
• Amilaze
• Kamikasa
• Kamikande

Etymology of KAMIKAZE

The word "kamikaze" is of Japanese origin. It is derived from two Japanese words: "kami" (神), meaning "god" or "divine", and "kaze" (風), meaning "wind". When combined, the term "kamikaze" forms the meaning of "divine wind". This term gained prominence during World War II and referred to the Japanese suicide pilots who carried out highly destructive attacks against Allied warships. The idea behind calling them "kamikaze" was to invoke the concept of a divine wind that would protect Japan and lead them to victory.

Plural form of KAMIKAZE is KAMIKAZES